News from Israel

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ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES

Shayetet 13 troops training in 2017.

Israeli Military Says It’s Reached Herd Immunity to COVID-19

BEN SALES JTA The Israeli military declared that it has reached herd immunity to COVID-19 after 80% of its personnel had either been vaccinated, had the disease or both.

The announcement makes the Israel Defense Forces perhaps the first military in the world to achieve immunity to the disease.

“Things look a lot more like they did a year ago,” Brig. Gen. Dr. Alon Glasberg, the IDF’s chief medical officer, told reporters March 11, according to the Times of Israel. “It seemed impossible, but now it’s here.”

While herd immunity will allow the military to resume normal operations, soldiers will still have to wear masks and socially distance for now.

The military’s vaccination campaign comes amid Israel’s record-setting drive to immunize its population. As of March 10, more than 4 million Israelis, nearly half the country and the majority of its adults, have been fully vaccinated.

Israel Aerospace Industries, UAE Weapons Company to Develop Anti-Drone System

JNS.ORG

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates’ weapons-maker EDGE to develop an advanced anti-drone defense system.

The anti-drone system would be “tailored to the UAE market,” with wide-ranging benefits to the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond, the state-owned IAI said in a statement.

Israel and the UAE officially normalized relations on Sept. 15 as part of the Abraham Accords.

The system would include technology such as jamming and cyber-takeover capabilities, in addition to guns, missiles, and electromagnetic and laser devices able to destroy a drone.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has been launching missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. A drone carrying explosives and a ballistic missile was launched on March 8 by the Houthis at Saudi Arabian oil facilities, according to officials.

The UAE is allied with the Saudis and had taken part in the Saudi-led military coalition intervention in Yemen.